Pharaoh vs The Egyptians: the people behind the revolution

He may be known for his humour, but in his first film comedian Akmal Saleh has produced a confronting and captivating look at the people behind the 2011 Egyptian revolution. Pharaoh vs The Egyptians is screening at the Byron Bay International Film Festival.

The world watched on through television screens as millions of Egyptians poured into Tahrir Square willing to die for their freedom.

After 30 years under the oppressive Mubarak regime, many felt they had little to lose.

Following the uprising Akmal Saleh returned to his country of birth with a cinematographer to explore the people behind it.

Making films wasn't something that had interested him before, but the Byron Bay based comedian says the event had consumed him.

"When this extraordinary event happened in Egypt, I was totally inspired and fixated and in awe of these people," he says.

Pharaoh vs the Egyptians brings together interviews with archive footage and images to tell the stories of those who lead the revolution.

It's something Akmal's been asked many times already, and it's something he will continue to answer: why would a comedian tackle a serious issue like this?

Well, he admits he intended to make a film with a comedic undertone, but quickly realised it was inappropriate.

"I initially wanted to make it funny, because that's what I do, that's how people know me and I thought surely I've got the skills to make this funny.

"Then as we talked to people and got to know the story more in depth, it just seemed annoying for me to try and be funny - you know these people are talking about being tortured or losing most of their family."

The use of Facebook, Twitter and mobile phones to bring millions of people together, and communicate with the rest of the world, was one of the most fascinating elements of the Arab Spring.

In this film bloggers speak about communicating protest dates, knowing that if only thousands turned up, they would all be killed.

But when millions poured into Egypt's largest square and vowed to stay until President Hosni Mubarak was gone, there was little the regime could do.

"They risked enormous ramification - people got tortured and arrested just for blogging or trying to organise a rally, of course that was against the law under the dictatorship - and people kept on doing it."

At the centre of the social media movement was a gruesome image of a mutilated young man's body.

He was arrested for circulating videos of police brutality.

This was used during rallies to remind the masses of the brutality future generations would face if they didn't continue the struggle.

This documentary captures a wave of emotions; from sadness, anger and chaos to the relief and empowerment that came when Mubarak announced he would step down.

Akmal says he was moved by the way all different types of Egyptians united for change.

"I couldn't believe that it had happened the way it happened, peacefully and just everybody came out in the streets, it wasn't a revolution where rebels took up arms.

"You'd see Muslims and Christians, wealthy people and poor people, educated people and non-educated people, so it was truly a peoples' revolution."

The Byron Bay International Film Festival runs from March 1-10. To see the program, visit the festival website.